iCANX Talks vol.218 | Harnessing Acoustics and Fluid Mechanics for Biomedical Innovations

The use of acoustics in medicine dates back to 350 BC when Hippocrates, known as the 'Father of Medicine,' pioneered acoustic diagnostics, laying the groundwork for modern innovations. Today, acoustofluidics—the fusion of acoustics and fluid mechanics—is transforming biomedical research and clinical applications with unparalleled precision, versatility, and biocompatibility. It enables label-free, high-purity, high-yield isolation of critical biomarkers—including circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, viruses, and proteins—from biofluids like blood, urine, and saliva, vastly outperforming traditional methods. Acoustofluidic devices facilitate non-invasive, high-throughput manipulation of bioparticles across eight orders of magnitude (from nanometers to centimeters) in virtually any medium, regardless of size, shape, or physical properties. Their scalability and adaptability drive advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomedical engineering, enabling next-generation apheresis, gene editing, and on-chip diagnostic tools for cancer, neurodegenerative, and infectious diseases. With their unmatched biocompatibility, precision, and efficiency, acoustofluidic technologies are revolutionizing medicine, bridging scientific innovation with clinical impact, and extending a legacy of sound-based medical breakthroughs that began over two millennia ago.